Apparatus for Dispensing Plastic Bags

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for dispensing plastic bags is disclosed. The apparatus includes a dispensing rack having a base, opposing sides, and a front portion. The opposing sides include tracks that accommodate a spindle capable of being inserted through a core of a roll of plastic bags and into the tracks such that the roll of plastic bags is seated in the dispenser rack and rotatable with respect to the spindle. The front portion of the dispensing rack is formed with a tongue which engages with a slit between bags on a roll and causes a bag to separate along a perforation. The front portion of the dispensing rack may also be formed with wedges which angle downward from the sides of the dispensing rack toward a lower portion of the tongue. When a bag is detached, the wedges catch the next bag and hold the next bag in place.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/416,084, filed Nov. 22, 2010, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to a dispenser for dispensing plastic bags on a roll.

In various types of stores, such as supermarkets, food markets, hardware stores, etc., plastic bags on a roll are typically available for bulk purchase of various items, such as produce, bakery products, and hardware parts. The rolls of plastic bags are typically the same width as the bags and many rolls are typically provided in a store for the convenience of consumers. Many retailers are concerned that dispensers for the rolls of plastic bags require too much shelf space and/or floor space. Many retailers are also concerned about the aesthetic appearance of plastic bag dispensers and the functionality provided to consumers.

Rolls of plastic bags are typically mounted horizontally or vertically on a shaft. The bags on the roll have perforations between them for separating the bags. Traditionally, in order for a customer to take a bag from a roll, the customer must grab the end bag with one hand and pull the end bag while holding the next bag or the roll with the other hand. Although there are perforations between the bags on the roll, on many occasions it can be difficult for consumers to separate a bag from the roll. In some cases, the roll may roll too much causing a long string of bags to hang from the roll when a consumer attempts to separate a bag from the roll. Many retailers feel that such a long string of bags hanging from a roll is an eyesore and a potential safety hazard. Another problem a consumer can encounter is that after a bag is separated from a roll the next bag on the roll can lie flat on the surface of the roll making it difficult for a consumer to find and/or grab the next bag.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for dispensing plastic bags on a roll. Embodiments of the present invention reduce footprint of bags and dispenser and make each bag easier to separate from roll. Further, embodiments of the present invention prevent the roll of bags from spinning out of control thereby leaving a string of bags hanging from the dispenser. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide a dispenser in which the bags are folded in such a way so each bag is easier to open.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing plastic bags includes a dispensing rack having a base, opposing sides, and a front portion. The opposing sides may include tracks that accommodate a spindle capable of being inserted through a core of a roll of plastic bags and into the tracks such that the roll of plastic bags is seated in the dispenser rack and rotatable with respect to the spindle. The front portion of the dispensing rack may be formed with a tongue which engages with a slit between bags on a roll and causes a bag to separate along a perforation. The front portion of the dispensing rack may also be formed with wedges which angle downward from the sides of the dispensing rack toward a lower portion of the tongue. When a bag is detached from a roll of plastic bags, the wedges catch the next bag and hold the next bag in place to facilitate a user grabbing and pulling the next bag to detach the next bag.

The dispensing rack may also include a resistance bar to contact a roll of plastic bags seated within the dispensing rack and provide resistance to prevent the roll of bags from spinning out of control. As bags are dispensed from the roll and the roll size decreases, the spindle is automatically lowered within the tracks so that adequate friction between the roll and the resistance bar is maintained.

The dispensing rack may also include vertical and/or horizontal mounting plates. The vertical and horizontal mounting plates can be used to mount the dispensing rack on vertical and horizontal surfaces, as well as free standing display stands.

These and other advantages of the disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for dispensing bags on a roll according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a dispenser rack of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a roll of bags and the dispenser rack;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the roll of bags seated within the dispenser rack;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the dispenser rack mounted on a stand and mounted on a wall;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the dispenser rack showing the tongue and wedges;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a bag being pulled off the dispenser rack;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dispenser rack showing the tongue catching a slit between the bags; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dispenser rack showing the wedges holding a next bag in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for dispensing bags on a roll according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a dispensing rack 100 capable of housing a roll of plastic bags 120. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the dispenser rack 100. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the roll of bags 120 and the dispenser rack 100. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the roll of bags seated within the dispenser rack.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing rack 100 includes a base 102 that is substantially “L” shaped, two semi-circular sides 104 a and 104 b attached to the base 102, and a front portion 106 attached to the base 102 and the sides 104 a and 104 b. The front portion 106 of the dispensing rack 100 includes a tongue 108, which may be integrally formed with the front portion 106 of the dispensing rack 100. The dispensing rack 100 also includes wedges 110 a and 110 b. The wedges 110 a and 110 b may be connected to the sides 104 a and 104 b, respectively, at or near where the sides 104 a and 104 b are connected to the front portion 106 of the dispensing rack 100. Alternatively, the wedges 110 a and 110 b may be connected near a top of opposite sides of the front portion 106, at or near where the front portion 106 is connected to sides 104 a and 104 b, respectively. The wedges 110 a are angled toward a lower portion of the tongue 108 and may be connected to opposite sides of a bottom of the front portion 106, at or near where a bottom of the tongue 108. According to an advantageous embodiment, there may be a small gap between the bottom of each wedge 110 a and 110 b and the bottom of the tongue 108. The dispensing rack 100 further includes a vertical mounting plate 112, a horizontal mounting plate 114, a resistance bar 116, and a spindle 118 attached to the dispensing rack by a chain 119. The dispensing rack 100 may be made of metal, such as steel, or reinforced plastic, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The wedges 110 a and 110 b may be made of wire, metal plastic, etc, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

As show in FIG. 1, the roll of plastic bags 120 is seated in the dispensing rack 100. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the insertion of the roll of plastic bags 120 into the dispensing rack 100. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, in order to insert the roll 120 into the dispensing rack 100, the spindle 118 is inserted through a core 122 of the roll of plastic bags 120. According to an advantageous embodiment, the core 120 of the roll of plastic bags is flush with the side of the bags. The core 120 may be a paper core, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Once the spindle 118 is inserted through the core 122 of the roll 120, the spindle 118 is then placed into the tracks 105 a and 105 b located on opposite sides 104 a and 104 b of the dispenser rack 100. The spindle 118 holds the roll 120 in place in the tracks 105 a and 105 b and allows the roll 120 to spin freely with respect to the spindle 118.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the performance of the apparatus may be increased if the roll 120 is mounted with the bags coming off the bottom of the roll 120, as shown in FIG. 1. The spindle 118 can have two stoppers 117 a and 117 b attached to the opposite ends of the spindle 118. For example, the stoppers 117 a and 117 b may be implemented as balls. The stoppers 117 a and 117 b prevent the spindle 118 from being pulled through the tracks 105 a and 105 b. According to an advantageous embodiment, the diameter of the stoppers 117 a and 117 b is smaller than the diameter of the core 122 of the roll of plastic bags 120, but larger than a width of the tracks 105 a and 105 b. Accordingly, the stoppers 117 a and 117 b can be inserted along with the spindle 118 through the core 122, but prevent the spindle from being pulled through a side of the tracks 105 a and 105 b. Many conventional bag dispensers have the core of the roll of bags extend past roll of bags. However, according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the roll of bags 120 with core 122 flush with side of the bags makes packaging the rolls for shipment much easier. Further, the core 122 for each roll 120 can be made with less material and will spin much more freely on the spindle 118.

The bags on the roll of plastic bags 120 are each separated with a perforation. This perforation between each bag allows the bags to be wounded into a roll 120 and for each bag to be easily detached from the rest of the roll 120. A slit is formed in the center of each perforation. The slit is used to catch onto the tongue 108 in the dispenser rack 100 to automatically separate each bag as the bags are pulled from the dispenser rack 100 and thereby allow only one bag to be dispensed at a time. This prevents a string of bags from being pulled off the roll 120 at one time. When a bag is detached from the roll 120, the wedges 110 a and 110 b near the tongue 108 hold the bag in place to facilitate a user grabbing the next bag. The wedges 110 a and 110 b also serve to guide a bag down onto the tongue 108 when the bag is being pulled from the dispenser rack 100.

It is to be understood that the roll of bags 120 shown in FIG. 1 can be any type of plastic bag. In one embodiment, side gusset bags may be used with the apparatus of FIG. 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto and other types of bags, such as star seal bags, bottom seal bags, etc., may be used as well.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when the roll of plastic bags 120 is seated within the dispenser rack 100, the roll of plastic bags 120 is in contact with the resistance bar 116, which is connected to a bottom portion of both sides 104 a and 104 b. The tracks 105 a and 105 b allow the spindle 118 to descend within the dispensing rack 100 as the roll of plastic bags 120 is reduced in size in order for the roll of plastic bags 120 to maintain contact with the resistance bar 116. The friction between the resistance bar 116 and the roll 120 prevents the roll 120 from spinning out of control when a user pulls on a bag in order to remove a bag from the roll 120. As a possible alternative, the resistance bar 116 could also be implemented as a plate that contacts the roll of plastic bags 120, where the size of the plate determines the amount of friction applied to the roll of plastic bags 120 to prevent the roll 120 from spinning. According to an advantageous embodiment, the sides 104 a and 104 b of the rack are completely open such that the roll of bags 120 is visible when housed in the dispensing rack 100, making it easy for a user see how many bags remain in the roll 120.

The base 102, sides 104 a and 104 b, and front portion 106 of the dispenser rack 100 may be welded together, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The wedges 110 a and 110 b may be welded to the sides 104 a and 104 b and/or the front portion 106 of the dispenser rack 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The vertical and horizontal mounting plates 112 and 114 may be welded to vertical (back) and horizontal (bottom) portions of the base 102 of the dispensing rack 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the dispenser rack 100 mounted on a stand and mounted on a wall. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the dispensing rack 100 can be mounted on a stand 500, or other horizontal surface, by attaching the horizontal mounting plate 114 to a horizontal surface of the stand 500. The dispensing rack 100 can also be mounted on a wall 502, or other vertical surface, by attaching the vertical mounting plate 112 to the wall 502. The vertical and horizontal mounting plates 112 and 114 can be attached to respective surfaces using screws or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dispensing rack 100 can be mounted horizontally or vertically with a small footprint. Accordingly, with its small footprint, the dispenser rack 100 can be mounted near any location in which bags may be needed by consumers. As shown in FIG. 5, the sides 104 a and 104 b of the dispensing rack 100 and not parallel with the horizontal portion of the base 102. When the dispensing rack 100 is mounted horizontally or vertically, as shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal portion of the base 102 is substantially parallel with respect to the ground and the vertical portion of the base 102 is substantially perpendicular with respect to the ground. The sides 104 a and 104 b are at an angle with respect to the horizontal portion of the base 102 and the tracks 105 a and 105 b are perpendicular with respect to the sides 104 a and 104 b. The angle of the sides 104 a and 104 b with respect to the base 100 allows the roll of plastic bags 120 to roll easier when a user pulls on a bag to detach the bag from the roll 120.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the dispenser rack showing the tongue 108 and wedges 110 a and 110 b. As illustrated in FIG. 6, wedge 110 a is angled downward from a top portion of side 104 a toward a bottom portion of the tongue 108 and wedge 110 b is angled downward from a top portion of side 104 b toward a bottom portion of the tongue 108. The distance between the wedges 110 a and 110 and the tongue 108 decreases toward the bottom of the tongue 108. This creates a small nook 602 a and 602 b between each wedge 110 a and 110 b and a bottom portion of the tongue 108. The nooks are capable of holding a next bag in place when a bag is detached from the roll of plastic bags 120. In the example of FIG. 6, the wedges 110 a and 110 b connect to a bottom portion of the tongue 108 creating the nooks 602 a and 602 b where the wedges 110 a and 110 b meet the tongue 108. In an alternate embodiment, the wedges 110 a and 110 b may connect to the bottom of the front portion 106 of the dispensing rack near the tongue 108, leaving a small gap between each wedge 110 a and 110 b and the tongue 108. In this case the small gaps between the wedges 110 a and 110 b and the tongue create the nooks that are capable of holding a next bag in place when a bag is detached from the roll 120.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate dispensing a bag using the apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a bag being pulled off the dispenser rack 100. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dispenser rack 100 showing the tongue 108 catching a slit between the bags. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dispenser rack 100 showing the wedges 110 a and 110 b holding a next bag in place. As shown in FIG. 7, a first bag 123 on the roll of plastic bags 120 is pulled from the dispenser rack 100. As the bag 123 is pulled from the dispenser rack the bag is pressured against the tongue 108. As shown in FIG. 8, there is a slit 125 and perforation 126 between the first bag 123 and a next bag 124 on the roll of plastic bags. As the first bag 123 is pulled from the dispenser rack 100, the slit 125 catches on the tongue 108. The tongue 108 causes the perforation 126 to tear, thereby automatically separating the first bag 123 from the next bag 124 and the rest of the roll 120. The first bag 123 is then detached from the roll of plastic bags 120. As shown in FIG. 9, when the first bag 123 is detached, the wedges 110 a and 110 b hold the next bag 124 to facilitate a user grabbing the next bag 124 to detach the next bag 124. In particular, when the first bag 123 is removed, the next bag 124 is forced down the tongue 108 and the wedges 110 a and 110 b catch the next bag 124 and hold the next bag 124 in the nooks between the wedges 110 a and 110 b and the tongue 108. As shown in FIG. 9, portions of the next bag 124 protrude from the nooks formed between the wedges 110 a and 110 b. The protruding portions of the next bag 124 allow a user to easily grab and pull the next bag 124 to detach the next bag 124 from the roll of plastic bags 120.

Furthermore, the shape of the wedges 110 a and 110 b crinkles the top of the next bag 124 which makes the next bag 124 easier for a user to open when the next bag 124 is detached. The action applied by the wedges 110 a and 110 b on the next bag 124 is similar to a user using his/her hands to crinkle the bag to provide better traction for his/her fingers and to initiate separation between the front and back panels of the next bag 124. Therefore the next bag 124 becomes easier to open for the user.

As described above, an apparatus for dispensing bags on a roll is disclosed. The bags could be used to hold various things such as fresh produce, bakery products and hardware parts. The dispenser rack has a separating tongue in front catches the slit between bags to separate each bag from the roll along the perforation. The dispensing rack has wedges on opposite sides of the tongue that catch a next bag and hold the next bag in place when a previous bag is detached. The dispenser rack utilizes a spindle and track system to support the roll of bags in place within the dispenser rack. The spindle and track system allows the roll of bags to turn with ease around the spindle. As bags are dispensed from the roll, the roll size decreases. The spindle and track automatically adjusts to the roll size so that adequate friction between roll and a resistance bar of the dispensing rack is maintained. This prevents the roll from spinning freely out of control. The dispensing rack can be mounted to vertical or horizontal surfaces, as well as a free standing display stand.

The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could implement various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A dispensing rack for dispensing bags, comprising: a base; a spindle capable of being inserted through a core of a roll of bags; opposing sides attached to the base and formed with opposing tracks to accommodate the spindle such that a roll of plastic bags on the spindle is seated in the dispensing rack and rotatable with respect to the spindle; and a front portion comprising: a tongue positioned to engage with a slit between bags on a roll to cause a bag to be separated from the roll along a perforation, and wedges positioned to form nooks on opposite sides of the tongue to catch a next bag from the roll of plastic bags when a bag is detached from the roll of plastic bags and hold the next bag in place.
 2. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein each wedge is attached to a respective one of the opposing sides of the dispensing rack and angles downward from the respective opposing side toward a lower portion of the tongue.
 3. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges angle upward from a lower portion of the tongue such that a distance between the tongue and the wedges increases toward the top of the tongue.
 4. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges are attached to opposite sides of a lower portion of the tongue and the nooks are formed where the wedges meet the tongue.
 5. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges are attached to a bottom of the front portion of the dispensing rack forming the nooks as gaps between the wedges and a lower portion of the tongue.
 6. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising: a resistance bar connected between the opposing sides and positioned to contact a roll of plastic bags seated within the dispensing rack and provide resistance to the roll of plastic bags when the roll of plastic bags is rotated with respect to the spindle.
 7. The dispensing rack of claim 5, wherein as bags are dispensed from the roll of plastic bags and a size of the roll of plastic bags decreases, the spindle lowers within the tracks in the opposing sides of the dispensing rack to maintain contact between the roll of plastic bags and the resistance bar.
 8. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising a vertical mounting plate attached to a vertical portion of the base.
 9. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising a horizontal mounting plate attached to a horizontal portion of the base.
 10. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a horizontal bottom portion and a vertical back portion that are perpendicular with respect to each other, the opposing sides are connected at an angle with respect to the horizontal bottom portion of the base such that top portions of the opposing sides are not parallel to the horizontal bottom portion of the base, and the tracks are perpendicular with respect to the top portions of the opposing sides.
 11. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the spindle comprises stoppers at opposite ends of the spindle, wherein a diameter of the stoppers are smaller than a diameter of the core of the roll of plastic bags and larger than a width of the tracks.
 12. The dispensing rack of claim 1, further comprising: a chain attaching the spindle to the base.
 13. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the base in substantially “L”-shaped comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the opposing sides are semi-circular, and a curved portion of each opposing side attaches between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion of the base.
 14. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges are angled toward a lower portion of the tongue to guide a bag being pulled from the dispenser rack such that a slit between the bag and a next bag on the roll of bags catches on the tongue.
 15. The dispensing rack of claim 1, wherein the wedges crinkle the next bag caught in the nooks to initiate separation between the front and back panels of the next bag to make the next bag easier to open when detached from the dispensing rack.
 16. An apparatus comprising: a roll of plastic bags comprising a hollow core and a plurality of plastic bags wound around the core, wherein the plastic bags are attached to each other with a perforation separating adjacent bags and a slit is formed in a portion of each perforation; and a dispenser for dispensing the plastic bags, the dispenser comprising: a base; a spindle inserted through the core of the roll of plastic bags, opposing sides attached to the base and formed with opposing tracks to accommodate the spindle such that the roll of plastic bags on the spindle is seated in the dispensing rack and rotatable with respect to the spindle, and a front portion comprising: a tongue positioned to engage with the slit between adjacent bags on the roll of plastic bags to cause a bag to be separated a next bag on the roll of plastic bags along the perforation separating the bag and the next bag, and wedges positioned to form nooks on opposite sides of the tongue to catch the next bag when the bag is detached from the roll of plastic bags and hold the next bag in place.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the core is flush with sides of the roll of plastic bags formed by the plurality of plastic bags wound around the core.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the dispensing rack further includes a resistance bar connected between the opposing sides and positioned to contact the roll of plastic bags provide resistance to the roll of plastic bags when the roll of plastic bags is rotated with respect to the spindle, and as bags are dispensed from the roll of plastic bags and a size of the roll of plastic bags decreases, the spindle lowers within the tracks in the opposing sides of the dispensing rack to maintain contact between the roll of plastic bags and the resistance bar.
 19. A method of dispensing plastic bags from a dispenser comprising: pulling on a first bag on a roll of bags that is rotatably seated in a dispenser; catching a slit formed in a perforation between the first bag and a second bag on the roll of bags on a tongue of the dispenser; causing by the tongue the first bag to be detached from the roll of bags along the perforation between the first bag and the second bag as the first bag is pulled; and catching the second bag in nooks formed by wedges of the dispenser on opposite sides of the tongue such that portions of the second bag protrude from the nooks.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: pulling on the portions of the second bag; catching a slit formed in a perforation between the second bag and a third bag on the roll of bags on the tongue; causing by the tongue the second bag to be detached from the roll of bags along the perforation between the second bag and the third bag as the second bag is pulled; and catching the third bag in the nooks such that portions of the third bag protrude from the nooks. 